Lock push button control



Nov. 22, 1966 M. M. CHECK 3,287,056

LOCK PUSH BUTTON CONTROL Filed April 20, 1964 ,4 TTOP/VE/ United States Patent O M 3,287,056 LOCK PUSH BUTTON CONTROL Mathias M. Check, Stratford, Pa., assignor to Eaton Yale & Towne Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 361,028 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-347) My invention relates to a novel control for a push button on the knob of a lock.

It will be appreciated that knobs on many locks are equipped with a locking push button that will be released from locking position either automatically or manually, depending on the manner in which the button is manipulated when moved to locking position. Thus, if the push button is simply depressed, the button will return to an outward release position when a part of the lock moves, as upon retraction of the latchbolt. On the other hand, if the push button has been rotated, the button will not be automatically released but will be 'dogged in locking position until a person rotates the button in an opposed direction. A push button of that kind actually is a push and turn button, and may be seen for example in the patent to Kubik, No. 2,983,537.

Unfortunately, it has been found that push buttons of the particular class sometimes are the cause of a person locking himself out of a room. It is lbelieved that this may happen when the person, in leaving the room, grasps the knob in such a way that a linger engages the push button, inadvertently causing the button to be rotated should the persons hand slip on the surface of the knob. Whatever the cause of the rotation, the push button when rotated will be dogged in locking position, 'and the person Will be unable to reenter the room unless he has a particular key. To reduce the possibility that a person may lock himself out through accident, I have developed an extremely novel push button control which will require that the push button be moved in a particular manner in order to achieve effective rotation of the button.

In my invention, I equip a knob and .a push button with .interlocking means that will restrict the push button to a particular intricate path when the button is moved in a direction away from a normal longitudinal path relatively to the knob. Then, to rotate the push button, it will be necessary to impart a particular guided motion to the button.

More particularly, I form a knob with an angular slot portion along which a lug on a push button must move in order to allow the push `button to be rotated. When the push button is simply depressed, the lug will lie in a longitudinal slot portion that will hold the button against rotating an effective amount, whereby to prevent dogging of the button in locking position.

I have thus -outlined rather broadly the more important features of my .invention inorder that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims -be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing my novel push button control,

FIG. 2 shows =a plan view of my control,

FIG. 3 shows a side view.

3,287,056 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 For the purpose of describing my invention, I show in FIG. l of the drawing a push button 10 that is mounted for sliding and rotating movements in the outer end portion 11 of a knob spindle sleeve 12. The push button 10 is equipped with -a lug 13 so as to be guided in a particular manner relatively to the spindle sleeve 12, las I Vshall describe. When depressed, the push button 10 will act through a usual push piece 14 that extends inwardly through the interior of spindle Isleeve 12, whereby to actuate lock mechanism, not shown. Yielding means such as a coil spring 15 will act in a conventional manner to press the push piece 14 and button 10 in an outward direction. A knob 16, shown in phantom in FIG. 1, is assembled to the spindle sleeve 12, as by a spring pressed kno-b retainer 17 on the sleeve. Thus, the spindle sleeve 12 in effect is a part of the knob 16, the knob enclosing the end portion 11 of the sleeve and having an end opening that exposes push button 10, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

In the novel push button control that I have conceived by my invention, I form the spindle sleeve 12 with a substantially L-shaped slot, indicated generally by the numeral 18, that will `coact with the lug 13 whereby to interlock the sleeve 12 and push button 10 in a particular manner. When push button 10 is in its release position, FIG. l, the lug 13 will lie in an outer part of the slot 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the slot 18 has a longitudinal portion 19, in which the lug 13 will move to the dotted line position 13a when the push button 10 is simply depressed. I call attention here to the fact that the knob spindle sleeve 12 has -a projection 20 juxtaposed to the inner end of the longitudinal slot portion 19, and extending at one side of slot portion 19. Thus, the projection 20 will hold the push button 10 against rotating a substantial amount while the lug 13 is in its depressed position 13a.

The slot 18 further has a transverse portion 21 that extends from a medial point on one side of the longitudinal portion 19. The transverse slot portion 21 has an angular shape that is formed in part by the projection 20, and that has a slot part 21a extending beyond that projection to communicate with a short, outwardly directed detent slot 22, FIG. 3. In effect, the slot 18 is L-shaped, while .including a transverse portion 21 in a particular angular form.

When the push button 10 is simply depressed, the longitudinal portion 19 olf slot 18 will coact with lug 13 to guide the button While leaving it free for an outward release movement. Thus, the `slot portion 19 will allow the push button 10 to move automatically to release position in the manner that is usual in locks of the particular class.

Now let us consider what must be done in order to rotate the push button 10 so that the button will be dogged in locking position, preventing :automatic release. Referring particularly to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the lug 13 must be moved as indicated by the arrows, moving from its outward position in an angular path .along the slot portion 21 so as to pass behind the projection 20, The lug 13 then must move somewhat farther in a transverse direction along slot 21a to the detent slot portion 22, in which lug 13 may be held by the outward pressure due to the spring 15. To achieve those movements, it will be necessary first to rotate the push button 10 in a particular manner While pressing the button inwardly. In other words, it will be necessary to impart a particular guided motion to the push button 10 in order to dog the button in locking position.

If we now consider that the push button 10 rst is depressed, as usually happens when the button is moved accidentally, it will be seen that the lug 13 will move to Y the position 13a, FIG. '2. yIf push button 10 now is rotated, the lug 13 will merely move slightly from the position 13a to position against the projection 20. If the push button is to rotate a substantial amount, it will be necessary that the lug 13a move in an outward direction beyond the projection 20 so as to enter the angular slot portion 21, as shown at 13b. However, lug 13 then will befout of aligned Vrelation to the slot portion 21a and can not move into the detent slot 22 unless the push button `10 is manipulated in ya particular manner. course, spring will oppose manipulation of lug 13 toward the slot portion 21a.

I have found that the construction I have described will make it` practically impossible to rotate the push button 10 sufficiently, merely through accident, to dog the button in locking position. Actually, isf the lug 13 is to be placed in the detent slot portion 22, it will be necessary to manipulate the push button 10 in a very particular manner. -If the push button l10 should be moved in any other manner, the lug 13 on the button will merely be guided into the position 13a or 13b, FIG. 2, which will not be effective to hold the push button 10 in locking position.

I believe that those personsskilled in the art will now understand that my novel push button control will allow both manual and automatic release of a locking push button, while making it extremely unlikely that a person may inadvertently manipulate the button so as to lock himself out of a room. Moreover, the construction of my novel control is extremely simple, and actually will require no more parts than are utilized in a conventional push button control. I believe, therefore, that the very considerable value of my novel .control will be understood, and that the merits of my invention will be fully appreciated.

I now claim:

1. In a lock of the class described having a knob, a push button on the knob, .a slot formed on a part of the knob and haw'ng a longitudinal portion in which a lug on the push button moves inwardly as said button is depressed to a locking position, and `a transverse slot portion in which said lug moves as the push button is rotated to dog the button in a locking position, the improvement that comprises said transverse slot portion extending in an inwardly inclined direction from a medial point on the longitudinal slot portion, said transverse slot portion formed to have an angular yshape restricting the push button lug to a particular intricate path as said button is rotated to the dogging position, and an inner end part of said longitudinal slot portion coacting with Vthe push button lug to hold the push button against rotating Ofk a substantial amount while said button is in a depressed` portion in which a lug on the push button moves inwardly j as said -button isidepressed to4 a locking position,` and a transverse slot portion inwhich said lug moves as the push button is rotated to dog the button in a locking position, the improvement that comprises said part of the knob formed with a projection extending at one side of the longitudinal slot portion and holding the push button lug against movement into the transverse slot portion when said button is in longitudinally depressed locking position, and said transverse slot portion communicating with the longitudinal portion -at a point outwardly of said projection and extending from said point in an angular direction.

3. In a lock of the class described having a knob, a push button movable on the knob and equipped with a lug, and a substantially L-shaped slot formed for said lug on a part of the knob, said slot including a longitudinal portion in which said lug moves as the push button is depressed to an.axially inward locking position, and

a transverse portion in aligned relation to said lug when the push button is in said axially inward position `and in which portion said lu-g may be moved incidental to rotation of the button, the improvement that comprisesmeans extending between the longitudinal and transverse portions of the L-shaped slot on said part off the knob whereby to hold said lug against movement from the longitudinal to the transverse slot portion while said button is in said axially inward position, and said slot formed with a portion lallowing clearance ttor movement of said lug past said means when the pu-sh button is in a position somewhat displaced longitudinally from said axially int ward position, so that a rotating movement then may be utilized for placing the push button in'its axially inward position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES `PATENTS 1,493,988 5/1924 Kerwin 339-188 2,724,607 ll/ 1955 Fisler 292,-169 i 2,726,891 12/1955 Gresham et al. 292--169 X 2,958,553 ll/ 1960 Phillips 292-,-1'69 2,983,537 5/1961 Kubik 292-.-169

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Examiner, 

3. IN A LOCK OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED HAVING A KNOB, A PUSH BOTTON MOVABLE ON THE KNOB AND EQUIPPED WITH A LUG, AND A SUBSTANTIALLY L-SHAPED SLOT FORMED FOR SAID LUG ON A PART OF THE KNOB, SAID SLOT INCLUDING A LONGITUDINAL PORTION IN WHICH SAID LUG MOVES AS THE PUSH BUTTON IS DEPRESSED TO AN AXIALLY INWARD LOCKING POSITION, AND A TRANSVERSE PORTION IN ALIGNED RELATION TO SAID LUG WHEN THE PUSH BUTTON IS IN SAID AXIALLY INWARDLY POSITON AND IN WHICH PORTION SAID LUG MAY BE MOVED INCIDENTAL TO ROTATION OF THE BUTTON, THE IMPROVEMENT THAT COMPRISES MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE MEANS OF THE L-SHAPED SLOT ON SAID PART OF THE KNOB WHEREBY TO HOLD SAID LUG AGAINST MOVEMENT FROM THE LINGITUDINAL TO THE TRANSVERSE SLOT PORTION WHILE SAID BUTTON IS IN SAID AXIALLY INWARD POSITION, AND SAID SLOT FORMED WITH A PORTION ALLOWING CLEARANCE FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID LUG PAST SAID MEANS WHEN THE PUSH BUTTON IS IN A POSITION SOMEWHAT DISPLACED LONGITUDINALLY FROM SAID AXIALLY INWARD POSITION, SO THAT A ROTATING MOVEMENT THEN MAY BE UTILIZED FOR PLACING THE PUSH BUTTON IN ITS AXIALLY INWARD POSITION. 